Mabye it seems like common sense to be adding your child to your bank account, so they can help pay bills. This can be convenient, but people often don’t realize that the child will have more authority than to just sign checks. Adding your child to your bank account means that the bank would let… Read More
Greensboro Estate Lawyer Warns, “Without a Power of Attorney, You May Not Be Able to Speak for Your Spouse”
As a Greensboro estate lawyer, one thing that surprises many of my clients is that Powers of Attorney are necessary even for married couples. People automatically assume that their spouse will be able to handle everything on their behalf if they become incapacitated. This is not usually the case. A Power of Attorney is a… Read More
Critical Post-Divorce Estate Planning Checklist | Guilford County Estate Planning Attorneys
Guilford County estate planning attorneys know, a divorce changes everything. If you are in the process of divorce or just finishing up, you are most likely busy trying to readjust to your new life. Although it’s a hectic time, it is important that you do not forget that you need to update your estate plan… Read More
Greensboro Will and Trust Lawyer: Creative Ways to Leave “Intangible Assets” To Your Loved Ones
When most people think about estate planning, they picture money and property. But, as a Greensboro will and trust lawyer, I see more and more people adding intangible assets to their estate plan. Intangible assets might be things that have no monetary value, but are nonetheless important to the family. They may include personal letters… Read More
You Plan for Date Night – But Not for Your Kids Future?!
Greensboro will and trust attorney Dennis Toman asks, “Are you planning for your children’s future?” Picture this – you get an opportunity to spend some alone time with your spouse. What do you do to prepare for date night? You carefully select a babysitter. Then, you write detailed instructions; when to feed the baby, how… Read More
Guilford County Special Needs Lawyer: Special Needs Trusts Protect Government Benefits and MUCH More
Unfortunately, many parents of children with special needs wait until their child turns 18 to consider creating a Special Needs Trust. Sometimes, they even wait until their child eventually needs government benefits like SSI or Medicaid. However, Special Needs Trusts do a lot more than just protect the beneficiary’s access to government benefits and should… Read More
Guilford County Will and Trust Lawyer: How to Know When It’s Time to Step in and Care for Your Elderly Loved One
The number of adult children caring for their elderly parents is growing at a very fast pace. If you are a baby boomer and not already caring for an elderly parent, chances are high that you might be facing this situation soon. It isn’t always easy to know when, or how, to step in to… Read More
Learn Why the New Federal Estate Tax Exemption Doesn’t Give You an Estate Planning “Pass”
Most likely you recall the tax reform bill that was passed by Congress and signed by the President late 2018. One big change that happened doubled the federal estate tax exemption amount for federal estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer taxes. Beginning in 2018, the exemption for federal estate, gift, and generation-skipping taxes increased from a… Read More
Call Your Mother…and Doing What’s Important
Guilford County Women’s Journal: Call Your Mother by Dennis Toman, JD, CELA As an Elder Law attorney, I’ve learned that there are only a few certainties in life. One is that no one makes it out of this world alive; everyone’s life on Earth ends. And another certainty is that everyone has or had a… Read More
Talk With Your Parents About Long-Term Care and Their Future
Odds are, your parents will need long-term care someday. Have you had a conversation with them about that yet? Don’t say it won’t happen to your parents. At least 70% of people over age 65 will require some form of long-term care services and support during their lives. (From 2015 Medicare & You, National Medicare… Read More
